Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar Airport (UBN)

Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar Airport (UBN)

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NAME: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Blue Sky Lounge
Airport: UBN
DATE: January 2024
REVIEW RATING:
BEN SAYS: MIAT Mongolian Airlines' Blue Sky Lounge is a quirky facility, with a modern design, a decent selection of food and drinks, and no bathrooms.
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During my trip to Japan via Mongolia, I had a roughly 90-minute layover at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I was arriving from Frankfurt in MIAT’s Boeing 787 business class, and was continuing to Seoul Incheon in MIAT’s Boeing 737 business class.

I spent my brief layover in the Blue Sky Lounge, which is the MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge at the airport. For that matter, it’s the only lounge at the airport. Gosh, this is one quirky lounge. On the one hand, it’s super modern, and quite spacious. On the other hand, it almost feels like a sponsored space, and there are no bathrooms…

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar location

Upon getting off my flight from Frankfurt, I first had to go through a passport check and clear transit security. To my surprise, I seemed to be one of the few people from my flight connecting beyond Ulaanbaatar, so there was no one else at the checkpoint.

I then found myself in the departures area of the terminal. Ulaanbaatar’s new airport only opened in 2021, so I was excited to check out the new terminal. What a beautiful little international hub — the airport has just six gates, so it almost feels like a newly built regional airport, except you have flights that can take you anywhere from Frankfurt to Bangkok.

Ulaanbaatar Airport terminal
Ulaanbaatar Airport terminal

Finding the Blue Sky Lounge is easy, as the entrance is right by gate one, so it’s only a very short walk from anywhere in the terminal.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar entrance

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar entry requirements & hours

I’m not sure that the MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar has any published hours, other than that it’s open prior to the departure of any flight departing the airport. As far as entry requirements go, this lounge is open to all MIAT business class passengers.

On top of that, this is the only lounge at the airport, so I believe other airlines use this as a contract lounge as well.

What I find surprising is that this lounge doesn’t belong to Priority Pass. I visited the lounge prior to MIAT’s morning bank of flights, and there literally wasn’t another guest, so you’d think that they’d look to generate some additional revenue.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar seating & layout

The MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar is a decent size, at least based on the lack of guests during my visit. The lounge is one large rectangular room, with a partition down the center of it, to create two zones.

One side of the lounge has pairs of chairs arranged in rows, facing one another, as well as a “U” shaped booth area.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar seating
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar seating

Then the other side of the lounge is a little smaller, with single chairs arranged in rows facing one another, plus a long bench along the walkway.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar seating
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar seating

Each end of the lounge has a bit more seating, but that’s the extent of the lounge.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar seating
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar seating
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar seating

The thing that stood out to me the most about the lounge is how heavily Chinggis Khan Vodka was being promoted. Every seating option had a pillow, with this branding.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar vodka branding

On top of that, there was a display at one end of the lounge further promoting Chinggis Khan Vodka.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar vodka branding

The lounge had Wi-Fi, which was fast and free. I found this to be quite a modern lounge. While it’s simple, it was a treat to be in such an empty space, given how crowded many lounges are nowadays.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar food & drinks

The MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar has an interesting food and drink selection. While the rest of the lounge markets Chinggis Khan Vodka, this area markets Altan Gobi Beer.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar buffet

The entire selection seems heavily focused on promoting alcohol, with the main fridge exclusively having nicely displayed beer, plus there being shelves for vodka and more.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar drinks
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar food & drinks
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar food & drinks

The food selection included instant noodles, cereal, nuts, dried fruit, and all kinds of packaged pastries.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar food
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar food

Then there was an area that had some actually good-looking salads, sandwiches, and cake. This is almost what you’d expect to see in an airport store that has fresh food items, so I thought that was fairly impressive.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar food
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar food
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar food

There’s also a fridge with some soft drinks, and then the lounge attendant is happy to prepare coffee drinks from the machine.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar drinks

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar bathrooms

The MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar doesn’t have bathrooms or showers. Instead, if you want to use the bathroom, you’ll have to go down the hall, where you’ll find that facility just a short walk away.

Ulaanbaatar Airport bathrooms

Bottom line

The MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar is a modern space, and at least during my visit, it was totally empty, which was a nice change of pace, given lounge crowding nowadays. The food and drink selection is for the most part basic, though there is a respectable selection of fresh salads, sandwiches, and cakes.

I wouldn’t spend more time in the lounge than you have to, though I must admit that Ulaanbaatar’s new airport (including the lounge) is a massive improvement over the old facility.

What do you make of the MIAT Mongolian Airlines Blue Sky Lounge?

Conversations (12)
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  1. Mongolfinn Guest

    There actually is another lounge at Chingis Khan International Airport. I have used it multiple times.

    The other lounge is for business-class and status pax. Entry is on the far left of check-in counters. When exiting, there is a security and a passport control. So the lounge is technically landside and probably not accessible for those rare eligible transit pax.

  2. Adrian Guest

    I am impressed with the range of "Tous Les Jours" sandwiches and pastries and cakes. I honestly will prefer those chilled deli items to those typically cooked hot foods featured in various Asian lounges. Tous Les Jours is a famous Korean bakery chain and they have plenty of coffee shops/deli here in many major US cities. I presume they possibly have a huge presence in Mongolia. But seriously the food looks more inspiring than those served on your flight.

  3. Bill n DC Diamond

    Well I like the Chinggis Khan Vodka pillows!!! I can see how one might wind up in someone's carryon just like the Former PanAm FA told me about the UA Cool gel pillows on a flight DownUnder a couple years ago ;-)

  4. NedsKid Diamond

    Looks like a night club/lounge on the edge of a not so great neighborhood in like Atlanta or Cleveland trying desperately to be what the owner thinks is Miami Beach.

  5. Jacques Portgieter Guest

    I would have taken one of those magnificent pillows as a souvenir! (I also would have drank a beer). How fun you got to experience this! I wonder if this is all Chinese funded.

    1. Timmy Guest

      The airport was mostly funded by Japan

  6. William Guest

    Nice pastries and cakes offerings. Quality should be ok, considering it's from Tous les Jours chain from Korea

  7. Points and Miles Doc Guest

    The lounge looks great. Mongolia's tourist season is highly seasonal though. There may be some business travelers in the winter, but otherwise I think that lounge would stay pretty empty. In August, the airport was packed!

  8. Frederik Guest

    How odd that they have German cornflakes from Edeka in the lounge!

  9. Julia Guest

    Lucky maybe add some more info to what is offered in the airport itself, in terms of food, shopping, etc.

  10. T- Guest

    The lounge looks warm and welcoming in a refined sort of way. What a treat to be the only guest there. I guess for such a small airport, the lounge is a little bit of a surprise. The gem next to gate one. Hope the salad was as good as they looked.

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William Guest

Nice pastries and cakes offerings. Quality should be ok, considering it's from Tous les Jours chain from Korea

2
Mongolfinn Guest

There actually is another lounge at Chingis Khan International Airport. I have used it multiple times. The other lounge is for business-class and status pax. Entry is on the far left of check-in counters. When exiting, there is a security and a passport control. So the lounge is technically landside and probably not accessible for those rare eligible transit pax.

1
Jacques Portgieter Guest

I would have taken one of those magnificent pillows as a souvenir! (I also would have drank a beer). How fun you got to experience this! I wonder if this is all Chinese funded.

1
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